Construction of roads



(No Model.)

W. B. HENNING.

GONSTRUUTION 0F ROADS, SIDE WALKS, 8w.

Patented Aug. 16, 1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENTWOFFICEQ WILLIAM B. HENNING, OF WATERLOO, INDIANA.

CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, SIDEWALKS, 84C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 245,721, dated August 16, 1881.

Application filed April 14, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WM. B. HENNING, of Waterloo, in the county of De Kalb and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful System of OonstructingRoads, Thoroughfares, Drives, Sidewalks, and Railway Road-Beds, which is fully set forth in the annexed specification.

This invention relates to a system of grading, draining, and aerating public roads, streets, drives, sidewalks, and railroads- First, by making a flat road-surface which, in itself, combines economy, durability, comfort, and safety.

Second. By placing lines of drain-pipes and filters parallel with, and extending along nnder the surface of the roadway, the said lines of drain-pipe being more or less in number, according to the width of roadway. For com mon roads three lines are required, one being under the center of the road-bed. The other tWo are parallel with it, and are placed under each side of the road-bed, and deeper than the center drain in order to immediately draw all water from the road-center. The water thus drawn from the road-surface escapes down ward through the filters and enters the drainpipes at the joints, orifices, 850., of said drainpipes, and is conducted to the proper outlets for discharging the water from the road.

Third, in connection with the aforesaid longitudinal lines of drain-pipe are placed, at intervals, transversely or nearly at right angles, sectional or cross pipes or drains for the purpose of discharging the water from the center drain into the flank or side drains, or from one drain into another, as is necessary to convey the water into the proper outlets and natural channels for carrying the water oif the land.

Fourth, the said longitudinal and transverse drain-pipes are all connected by means of combination drain-pipe chambers, thereby making safe connections, depositing all sediment of the drains, showing the condition of the drains, and aerating them, which will cause a speedy evaporation of road-moisture, and also facilitate the flow of water by relieving the vacuum in the pipes.

The above-described system of drains, filters, and connections causes all surface-water to immediately sink into the drain-pipes, from (No model.)

whence it is conducted by escape-pipes into the proper sewers, channels, and water-courses.

A convex road is uncomfortable to the driver and fatiguing to the team, and often dangerous, from the tendency of team or vehicle to slip toward the sides during the season of mud or ice. All roads having open or surface ditches are kept wet and muddy by reason of said ditches becoming obstructed. The capil- 6o lary action of the ground absorbs the water thus held, keeping the roadway impaired and travel impeded. A road having a flat surface is more durable, less costly to make, and safer to travel, and possesses the advantage of at 6 5 fording even roadside lawns instead of unsightly and dangerous gutters, and with the above-described system of filters and drains for carrying the water off quickly, together with my means for ventilation and the removal of deposit, will be kept in comparatively good condition in all seasons, and the said system, when applied to city thoroughfares, will make a safe and secure road-bed for any kind of pavements, and the road-surface can be kept 7 dry at all times by means of theaera-tiugchambers, so regulated as to allow hot air or steam to be forced through the pipes, thus securing sanitary improvements in localities subject to epidemics arising from filthy and undrained streets and quarters. The aforesaid system of road construction in race-tracks or driving-parks will insure at all times a safe and dry track, avoiding or preventing accidents and delay of races so often occasioned by wet weather. The said system applied in the construction of railroads will prevent frost or ice heaving the ties by keeping the ground dry, necessarily reducing the frequency of railway accidents, inasmuch as a broken rail is almost invariably the result of ice heaving up the ties. The road-bed being kept dry, will preserve the ties much longer from rot by moisture. It will form a dry and solid founda tion for laying down metallic or other patent 5 ties, and contribute a vast saving in repairs of the road-beds, which are loosened by spring thaws and heavy traffic.

The pipe-lines may be used for casin g telegraph-wires, thus dispensing with poles and 10: elevated wires, so troublesome in towns and cities.

The accompanying illustrations, to which reference is made, fully represent my invention.

Figure 1 is atransverse drawing of roadway. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal drawing of the same. Fig. 3 shows the vertical connecting-chambers, all of which are intended to show my invention.

In Fig. 1 A A show the road-surface. B B B show the longitudinal parallel drainpipes. O G show the transverse drain-pipes which connect the flank or side drains with the center drain. D D D show the cuts or ditches for laying down the pipe-lines.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the letters X show the vertical connecting-chambers. Thecuts or ditches should be filled above the drain-pipe with porous earth, or with layers of gravel, or gravel and cobblestone, or any material that will serve as a filter and form a solid road-bed.

I do not limit myself to any particular number of drain-pipe lines; neither do I restrict myself to any particular construction of the filters, connection-chambers, and aerators, as herein shown and described.

My invention consists, broadly, in the arrangements and combination of the cuts, filters, drain-pipes, and "aerating connectionchambers'located as above described, in connection with a flat road-surface, track, sidewalk, or road-bed.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with aflat-surfaced road, filters, drain-pipe lines, and connecting-chambers, said pipe-lines serving as drain-pipe lines, aerating-pipe lines, and heating-pipe lines.

2. The combination, with a flat-surfaced road having filtering-sections and a system of drainpipes thereunder, of connecting-chambers for said pipes, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

Witnesses: WVM. B. HENNING.

HERMAN HIRscH, HARRY Frsnnn. 

